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First Substitute H.B. 281

This document includes House Committee Amendments incorporated into the bill on Wed, Feb 25, 2004 at 11:12 AM by kholt. -->

Representative David L. Hogue proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
TOXIC MOLD DISCLOSURE

             2     
2004 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Sponsor: David L. Hogue

             5     
             6      LONG TITLE
             7      General Description:
             8          This bill enacts provisions within the Utah Health Code H [ and the Utah Fit Premises Act ] h
             9      related to mold.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    requires the Department of Health to:
             13              .    prepare and make public certain information relating to mold; and
             14              .    monitor progress in the science relating to mold exposure and make reports to
             15      the Legislature H [ ; and
             16          .    requires an owner to make a disclosure to a renter or prospective renter regarding
             17      mold in a rental unit ] h .
             18      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             19          None
             20      Other Special Clauses:
             21          None
             22      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             23      H [ AMENDS:
             24          57-22-2, as enacted by Chapter 314, Laws of Utah 1990 ] h
             25      ENACTS:

             26          26-48-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             27          26-48-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             28          26-48-201, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             29          26-48-202, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             30      H [ 57-22-4.2, Utah Code Annotated 1953 ] h
             31     
             32      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             33          Section 1. Section 26-48-101 is enacted to read:
             34     
CHAPTER 48. TOXIC MOLD ACT

             35     
Part 1. General Provisions

             36          26-48-101. Title.
             37          This chapter is known as the "Toxic Mold Act."
             38          Section 2. Section 26-48-102 is enacted to read:
             39          26-48-102. Definitions.
             40          As used in this chapter:
             41          (1) "Department" means the Department of Health.
             42          (2) (a) "Mold" means a form of multicellular fungi that live:
             43          (i) on plant or animal matter; and
             44          (ii) in indoor environments.
             45          (b) "Mold" includes:
             46          (i) cladosporium;
             47          (ii) penicillium;
             48          (iii) alternaria;
             49          (iv) aspergillus;
             50          (v) fuarium;
             51          (vi) trichoderma;
             52          (vii) memnoniella;
             53          (viii) mucor; and
             54          (ix) stachybotrys chartarum.
             55          Section 3. Section 26-48-201 is enacted to read:
             56     
Part 2. Department Responsibilities

             57          26-48-201. Department to provide public information.
             58          (1) The department shall prepare information concerning:
             59          (a) the health impacts of mold on a person who occupies real property containing mold;
             60      and
             61          (b) recommended practices for a person who owns or occupies real property containing
             62      mold.
             63          (2) The department shall, within existing budgets, use any reasonable means to make
             64      the information prepared under Subsection (1) available and accessible to the public.
             65          Section 4. Section 26-48-202 is enacted to read:
             66          26-48-202. Monitoring and reporting requirements.
             67          The department shall:
             68          (1) monitor developments in other states regarding the science of setting minimum
             69      standards of mold exposure within real property; and
             70          (2) when the department considers appropriate, report any developments described in
             71      Subsection (1) to the Health and Human Services interim committee.
             72           H [ Section 5. Section 57-22-2 is amended to read:
             73          57-22-2. Definitions.
             74          As used in this chapter:
             75          (1) "Mold" is as defined in Section 26-48-102 .
             76          [(1)] (2) "Owner" means the owner, lessor, or sublessor of a residential rental unit. A
             77      managing agent, leasing agent, or resident manager is considered an owner for purposes of
             78      notice and other communication required or allowed under this chapter unless the agent or
             79      manager specifies otherwise in writing in the rental agreement.
             80          [(2)] (3) "Rental agreement" means any agreement, written or oral, which establishes or
             81      modifies the terms, conditions, rules, or any other provisions regarding the use and occupancy
             82      of a residential rental unit.
             83          [(3)] (4) "Renter" means any person entitled under a rental agreement to occupy a
             84      residential rental unit to the exclusion of others.
             85          [(4)] (5) "Residential rental unit" means a renter's principal place of residence and
             86      includes the appurtenances, grounds, and facilities held out for the use of the residential renter
             87      generally, and any other area or facility provided to the renter in the rental agreement. It does ] h

             88      H [ not include facilities contained in a boarding or rooming house or similar facility, mobile home
             89      lot, or recreational property rented on an occasional basis.
             90          Section 6. Section 57-22-4.2 is enacted to read:
             91          57-22-4.2. Owner's duties -- Mold -- Civil action.
             92          (1) An owner shall comply with Subsection (2) if the owner knows that a residential
             93      rental unit contains visible mold.
             94          (2) An owner described in Subsection (1) shall provide written notice to:
             95          (a) a prospective renter prior to entering into a rental agreement; and
             96          (b) a renter within five calendar days after the owner becomes aware of a condition
             97      described in Subsection (1).
             98          (3) This section does not require an owner to conduct tests to determine whether a
             99      rental unit contains visible mold.
             100          (4) (a) A renter may bring an action against an owner for a violation of this section.
             101          (b) In an action under Subsection (4)(a), a renter may recover the greater of:
             102          (i) actual damages; or
             103          (ii) $1,000. ] h




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-19-04 12:14 PM

A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

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